Like so many of you covered in flour and sprinkles, I am putting the finishing touches on my holiday checklist hoping to get everything done in time. I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks the holidays sneak up on me each year. I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your support, encouragement, and help getting Pixie Consulting off the ground this year. Behind every idea there are countless dreamers and doers responsible for takeoff. I’ve had a lot of dreamers who encouraged me when I was unsure of my plans and doers who assisted with the technicalities of owning a business and creating a website. Every Facebook like, every social share, and every word of encouragement helped me make this idea a possibility. I love the excitement of a new year and 365 fresh days to start over with. I’m thrilled to have you along for this journey and can’t wait to unravel new techniques, ideas, and content to help you land a following and boost sales for your small business. I’ve been busy behind the scenes creating a marketing plan to take 2015 by storm… But in the meantime? I’m kicking back and enjoying family, friends, some good wine, and laughter. I hope that you are doing the same. Happy holidays, and all the best for a prosperous New...

About a week ago, I was told the company I had worked with for the past two years would no longer need my social media, marketing, and writing services and my tenure as an independent contractor would soon come to an end. It took me a while to fully process the news—not only was the timing not ideal, it was also unexpected. Now that some time has passed, I’m starting to see that this is a stepping-stone for a bigger—and brighter—career journey ahead. Yesterday I received a package in the mail from a dear friend who wanted to cheer me up with assorted bath goodies. After reading the card and sifting through the delicately crafted basket, I was struck by something I hadn’t yet seen before: a pair of scissors attached to a note. “Part of providing the finest in luxury is knowing that the gifts are easy to open and enjoy. Please accept these complimentary scissors to assist you in opening your gift.” I can’t imagine that a gift so small would break any budget, and yet, it was such a thoughtful gesture to include something that would make the gift basket experience THAT MUCH MORE enjoyable. It made me wonder what we all could be doing to improve the experiences of our customers this holiday season. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the cold winter months, are we delivering a service that our customers would want to repeat again and again? Here are just a few small things you could do to give your customers a positive experience this holiday season: Include a handwritten...